Teutonic Order In Prussia Research Articles

‘Power to the Family.’ The Military Obligations of Old Prussians in Warmia in the Context of their Family Ties (13th and 14th Centuries)

The article deals with the main types of social and military relations between the indigenous people and the new landlords that formed in the times of building and reinforcing the rule of the Teutonic Order in Warmia, a part of Prussia. These included military action and the military obligations of the indigenous people and their descendants in the 13th and 14th centuries. The issue is discussed in the context of the family ties of the Old Prussians. In the era of the conquest, and when building the territory of the Teutonic Order in Prussia, family rule over possessions was reinforced at the expense of other social relations. From the article, it is clear that the military potential of the Diocese of Warmia was supported mainly by the indigenous people, who were granted Kulm law and received other privileges. It also seems that Old Prussians not only fought alongside the Order (knights of the Old Prussian origin, small freemen, equites Prutheni), but also led the army of the diocese as bishopric vogts.

НУМІЗМАТИЧНІ СВІДЧЕННЯ ТОРГОВЕЛЬНИХ ТА ВІЙСЬКОВИХ ЗВ'ЯЗКІВ РУСЬКИХ ЗЕМЕЛЬ ВЕЛИКОГО КНЯЗІВСТВА ЛИТОВСЬКОГО З ДЕРЖАВОЮ ТЕВТОНСЬКОГО ОРДЕНУ У ПРУССІЇ

The relations of the Ukrainian medieval lands with the state of the Teutonic Order in Prussia left the relics in the documentary sources of the second half of the XIII century – beginning of the XVI century. However, the relations of the Ukrainian medieval lands with the State of the Teutonic Order in Prussia should have been left not only in written sources. Similar relations, even if they were occasional, left a sufficient number of numismatic sources in the cultural layers of the settlements. In this case, we have the Teutonic coins, lost by their owners.

Zapiski w dawnych księgach inwentarzowych zakonu krzyżackiego m. in. o zasobach arsenałów i innych magazynów na zamkach krzyżackich na granicy prusko-mazowieckiej od XIV do XVI w.

Kompleksy zamkowe, zarówno te nad granicą z Mazowszem, jak i inne, położone w głębi państwa krzyżackiego w Prusach, były przede wszystkim obiektami o charakterze obronnym, pełniły jednak również rolę administracyjną, gospodarczą, centrów produkcji, przetwórstwa i przechowalnictwa spożywczego. Pełniły jednocześnie rolę magazynów militariów dla miejscowych członków konwentów (rycerzy) oraz zbrojowni z uzbrojeniem interwencyjnym dla wojsk, które mogłyby przybyć z innych pobliskich zamków (lub dla wojsk zaciężnych) i używać tychże zapasów do dalszego prowadzenia działań wojennych. Istniał bardzo duży związek pomiędzy usytuowaniem zamku (tu na granicy z księstwem mazowieckim), infrastrukturą, w tym gospodarczo-militarną kompleksu zamkowego, jego zapasami oraz rolą, jaką pełnił w systemie obronnym państwa zakonu krzyżackiego w Prusach i jego potencjałem gospodarczym, wynikającym z infrastruktury gospodarczej i zgromadzonych oraz przechowywanych w nim wszelkich zapasów.

The Sources of the 1545 Old Prussian Language Catechisms

The Teutonic Order in Prussia recognised and acknowledged its responsibility to catechiseboth the German-speaking colonists and the native population. The Reformation made noradical changes to these requirements, but gave them serious attention. During the 1540s tothe 1560s, several Catechisms for the non-German subjects of the Duke of Prussia were preparedand published in Konigsberg, including three in the Old Prussian language. The editorof the first and second Old Prussian-language Catechisms published bilingual books, with theGerman Catechism on the left-hand page, and the same text on the right-hand page in the OldPrussian language. Reinhold Trautmann established that the source of the Decalogue in thesebooks was Luther’s 1531 Small Catechism. However, he had difficulties confirming the sourcesof the remaining four parts of the Catechism, since he found a number of words and phraseswhich could not be identified as coming from Luther’s Catechisms. The article elaborates onTrautmann’s thesis that the source of the German Decalogue is Luther’s 1531 Enchiridion. Inaddition, it argues that the sources of the remaining parts of the Catechism were German-languagecatechetical and liturgical texts that were circulating in Prussia at that time. KEY WORDS: Duchy of Prussia, catechisation, Old Prussian language, Martin Luther.

Vom katholischen Deutschordensgebiet zum protestantischen Herzogtum Preußen | From the Catholic Domains of the Teutonic Order to the Protestant Duchy of Prussia

The secularisation of the domains of the Teutonic Order in Prussia led to the establishment of thefirst Lutheran territorial church in the world. This fact is almost forgotten today, and this is evidenteven in specialised literature on the Reformation. The article outlines the introduction of the Reformationin Prussia, considering it as an example of its smooth and successful entrenchment. In orderto show this, the late stage of the rule of the Teutonic Order is defined, showing that fundamentalreform was triggered by a multi-layered crisis characteristic of the Order’s domains in Prussia. Thearticle shows that, in coordination with Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchton, and assisted by hisbishops, after becoming the first Duke of Prussia in 1525, Albert, the Grand Master of the TeutonicOrder, implemented reforms in his domains that resembled the main problems raised by the Reformationin an almost exemplary way. But at the same time, it shows that the introduction of theReformation in Prussia was not a unidirectional process, for Duke Albert supported Andreas Osiander’sideas for some time, before he gradually entered the ranks of the confessors of Augsburg. KEY WORDS: Teutonic Order, Prussia, Reformation, Albert, Martin Luther, Andreas Osiander.

Roman Czaja et Andrzej Radziminski (dir.),The Teutonic Order in Prussia and Livonia. The political and ecclesiastical Structures 13th-16th century

C’est une heureuse initiative qu’ont prise Roman Czaja et Andrezej Radziminski en proposant un ensemble de contributions liees a l’histoire de l’Ordre teutonique a la fois en Prusse et en Livonie (Lettonie et Estonie actuelles). Seuls les aspects politiques et ecclesiastiques sont pris en compte, mais le terme de « politique » a recu une acception large. L’ouvrage est divise en trois sections. Les deux premieres concernent respectivement la Prusse et la Livonie ; la troisieme offre les liste...

Not Only Barrels – Equipment for Firearms in the State of the Teutonic Order in Prussia

Not Only Barrels – Equipment for Firearms in the State of the Teutonic Order in Prussia

Humanistic Mythograms in Old Prussian Historiography before and after the Decline of the State of the Teutonic Order (1466–1550)

Humanistic Mythograms in Old Prussian Historiography before and after the Decline of the State of the Teutonic Order (1466–1550) The decline of the Teutonic Order in Prussia caused some kind of amnesia in historiographical narrative. This can be shown on the fictional reports on tribal history and kingship in heathen Prussia even though these narrative is mostly regarded as ridiculous and without any value as historical source. These reports given by Simon Grunau, the so called Brutenia-chronicle and further merely unique material depends on concepts drawn in the chancerllery of the last decades of the knights administration that was used by the Order’s enemies as well and read in both Royal and Ducal Prussia. Pre-historical Prussia was projected on ancient Greek and Roman literature, and though completely speculatively, raised to a high and philologically condensed level of humanism. It is based on tribal descriptions given by Ptolemy and developed by humanistic etymology. But due to the mental confusion at the Orders decline there was no possibility to keep that level. Allusions to Ptolemy or Dion of Prusa were misunderstood or twisted around. Simon Grunau, for instance, worked on confused and partially corrupted tradition, though not all of his wonderous stories lack historiographical background such as allusion to Lithuanian and Slavonic tradition (Legend of Palemon, Wolhynia chronicles). In mid 16th century when regional historiography was rebuilt under duke Albrechts patronage, manuscript tradition was full of confusion. In their quest for the best sources scholars like Christoph Falk and Stenzel Bornbach put the first hints for reconstructing lost narrative.

Mendicant friaries in the Dominion of the Teutonic Order in Prussia and in Royal Prussia after 1466 until the Reformation

Mendicant friaries in the Dominion of the Teutonic Order in Prussia and in Royal Prussia after 1466 until the Reformation

Osadnictwo w południowo-wschodniej części państwa zakonu krzyżackiego po wojnie trzynastoletniej (1466–1525)

W artykule podjęto próbę podsumowania aktualnej wiedzy na temat osadnictwa w południowo-wschodniej części państwa Zakonu Krzyżackiego w latach 1466–1525. Autor skupia się wyłącznie na wybranym obszarze Prus, tzw. Wielkiej Puszczy (Grosse Wildnis). W artykule została omówiona problematyka kolonizacji i zasiedlenia, a także towarzyszących tym procesom przemianom etnicznym i demograficznym, omówiono uczestniczące w nich grupy społeczne i prawo stosowane w czasie kolonizacji, jakim objęci byli osadnicy. Osadnictwo na obszarze Wielkiej Puszczy po wojnie trzynastoletniej odegrało bardzo ważną rolę nie tylko w kontekście omawianego terytorium, ale też państwa krzyżackiego. Był to okres bardzo intensywnego tworzenia nowych osad. Przełomowy był również intensywny napływ ludności polskojęzycznej, która przez kolejne stulecia kształtowała krajobraz etniczny i kulturowy tej części Prus, która później stała się Mazurami.

Verbrechen und Verfestung im Spiegel der Kulmer Gerichtsbücher

Abstract Crime and Ostracism in the medieval court records of Kulm. As a High Court (Oberhof) of the State of the Teutonic Order in Prussia, the town of Kulm on the Vistula was a center of Magdeburgian law in eastern Central Europe. The article discusses some aspects of criminal practice, which are provided by the recently edited court records of said city from the 14th through the 16th century. Primarily, they show the ostracisms (Verfestungen) of offenders on the run. Because they could be apprehended by anyone - not just the accuser -, the offenders were forced to either conclude a settlement with the victim or hand themselves in to the court. The court records give no information about offenders who had been seized and judged immediately after committing the crime (handhafte Tat). Therefore, albeit the sources contain interesting facts on the history of crime, they don’t allow a complete crime statistics of the town.

W trosce o zbawienie – testamenty kupców Gdańska i Elbląga z drugiej połowy XV i początku XVI wieku

The author analyses the instructions included in the testaments of the burghers fromDanzig and Elbing, written in the second half of the 15th and at the beginning of the 16thcenturies. After going through the pious legacies made by merchants and members of thetown’s elite it may be claimed that the instructions in the testaments are quite similar asfar as the numbers and amounts of the legacies are concerned; the legacies are made tolocal parish churches, monastic orders, towns’ hospitals and the poor. It was also quitecommon to give legacies to church institutions situated outside the towns where the benefactorslived; for example, the monastic complex of the Carthusian Order called Mary’sParadise (Polish: Raj Maryi) in Kartuzy (German: Karthaus) and mendicant orders inthe State of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (merchants from Danzig and Elbing) and inRoyal Prussia (merchants from Elbing alone), which – in exchange for that – offered thebenefactors a prayer and Masses for their souls and the ones of their families. Such obligationswere consciously published in many places simultaneously, in an attempt to additionallysecure prayers needed to be redeemed. The richest also financed pilgrims whowould visit pilgrimage centres for them. The sums for that purpose were in both townsequal, which probably resulted from actual costs and accepted norms. Generally speaking,pious legacies constituted an insignificant part of the merchants’ property, unless thebenefactor had any inheritors. In part of the testaments there are no instructions for piousbequests; however, it does not mean that the burghers did not give part of their propertyad pias causas. The pressure both of the existing norms and the religious conceptions ofthe way that might lead to redemption made it indispensable to make that last contract.

Przekład tekstów specjalistycznych – oczekiwania i wyzwania a praktyka

This article addresses the issue of the challenges faced by a translator and proofreader of historical papers as technical texts. The theoretical part includes various, albeit scarce, definitions of technical translation and jargon and serves to classify historical texts as technical ones. The practical part is a discussion of the problems faced by the translator and proofreader of the book entitled Sacred Space in the State of the Teutonic Order in Prussia . The author describes the challenges connected with providing a coherent volume composed of 14 chapters, each written by a different scholar, in terms of editing, terminology, style, grammar, and discrepancies between the Polish and English languages. The article ends with a set of tips which are meant to facilitate the work of translators of technical texts and include creating a glossary of specialist terminology, developing appropriate translation and linguistic competence, applying various translation techniques, following (and/or) preparing a stylesheet, and collaborating with authors, editors, and publishers.

Remarks on the Process of Institutionalisation of Mendicant Orders and their Role in Pastoral Work Based on the Example of the Dominion of the Teutonic Order in Prussia from the 13th to the Early-16th Century

The conditions and the environment of the mendicant religious orders (Dominicans, FranciscanConventuals, Franciscan Observants, Carmelites, and Augustinians) in the holdings of the TeutonicOrder in Prussia differed from those in Western Europe. In newly built castles and newly foundedcities, German and Polish-speaking communities predominated; while Prussians, unfamiliar withthe basics of Christianity, prevailed in rural territories. The network of parish churches declinedtowards the eastern and northern boundaries of the state. Therefore, the mendicant orders operatedthere on a different model. An examination of its characteristics is carried out by means of ananalysis of the stages, development and dynamics of the settlement of mendicant orders in Prussia.An attempt is made to identify the organisation of their provision and the supporting milieu. Particularattention is paid to the impact of mendicant orders on the deepening of the faith of the localPrussian population in the eastern part of the Teutonic Order’s holdings. Key words: Teutonic Order, Prussia, mendicant orders, Dominicans, Christianisation, Prussians,monks. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.15181/ ahuk.v29i0.1063

Odwołanie do przeszłości w architekturze sakralnej państwa krzyżackiego

Reference to the past in the sacral architecture of the State of the Teutonic Order This paper is concerning the question of the presence of Romanesque provenance forms in the sacral architecture of the State of Teutonic order in Prussia. To depict the retrospective tendencies a typological category was used – a pseudo-basilica spatial disposition of the nave. Amongst over a dozen of churches representing such solution, often it is one of the stages of a longer erection process (Dzierzgon, Bartoszyce, Nowe Miasto Lubawskie, the Franciscan church in Chelmno, or the parish church in Chelmza), there are some examples when this spatial variant was chosen as a desired form what can be classifid as a deliberate reference to the Romanesque forms (the cathedral church in Kwidzyn, St. Nicolas church in Grudziądz, the project of St. Jacobs church in Torun). The other elements of architectural retrospection can be seen in the shape of western, two tower fronts (parish churches in Chelmno, Brodnica, the cathedra in Chelmza), as well as the one tower fronts (parish churches in Torun, Grudziądz, Chelmza) and the presence of galleries as excluded spaces for Teutonic hierarchs. Single affiiations quoted in the literature for certain objects are different but the common ground that remains in the Romanesque source for the references in architecture. It seems that the predilection for the forms of Romanesque context should be regarded as a conscious choice of a certain architectural narration with its source in ideological and historical function of these references. The Teutonic investors, acting on a ground deprived of artistic identity, were forced to create it from scratch. The Romanesque modus of the building gave this ahistorical space a certain feel of a “distant past”.

The political role of the cult of the Virgin Mary in Teutonic Prussia in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries

Elements of the cult of the Virgin Mary were of great importance in the system of political views set forth by the intellectual élite of the Teutonic Order in Prussia. They were meant for the expression of the aspirations and needs of the Order as a territorial master. The Teutonic Knights presented Mary as an active symbol to stand up to the Order's external and internal enemies. The feudalized cult of St Mary was designed to strengthen the Order's political position and authority in Prussia as well as its subjects' loyalty by providing them with models of faithfulness. However, the Teutonic model of faith and piety did not comply with the transformation of Christianity in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Impairment of the subjects'loyalty to the Order after the end of the fourteenth century, which led to their obedience being renounced in the middle of the fifteenth century, may thus have been a result of the changes in the religious life characteristic of the epoch.

The Rise of the State of the Teutonic Order in Prussia

The Rise of the State of the Teutonic Order in Prussia